Slug eliminator for coin-operated mechanisms



&reh 17, 1936. J, HALL -2,034,3

i SLUG ELIMINATOR FOR CIN OPERATED MECHANISMS Filed April 21, 1934 I ANY BUT &E N U l N E CO l NS /NVENTOR Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLUG ELIMINATOR FOR COIN-OPERATED MECHANISMS 1 Claim.

The invention relates to machines or devices the operation or use of which is dependent upon the insertion of a proper coin in a slot which directs the coin to the working elements, and the object is to provide simple and direct-acting means to prevent a slug passing through the coin slot. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully described and particularly defined.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a coin-controlled telephone in which the invention is embodied,

Fig. 2 is a partial rear elevation,

Fig. 3 is a plan View with the top removed,

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section.

In accordance with the present invention, a plunger consisting of a suitable rod having a conical or tapered head I is mounted slidably in a guide casing 2 at the side of the coin slot or tube |2 with the head of the plunger extending across and resting in the coin tube. The head end of the plunger passes through an opening at 4 in the casing 2 and the opposite end of the plunger is supported and guided by an opening 'l in a pin 5 which is secured in the casing by nuts 6 on the ends of the pin, which nuts may be utilized also to secure the casing 2 in place. Removal of the nuts will permit the pin and then the plunger to be withdrawn, thereby facilitating repairs. A coiled expansion spring 3 is arranged around the plunger between the pin 5 and a suitable abutment on the plunger rod and yieldably holds the plunger projected into and across the coin tube.

When a legitimate coin of the proper weight is inserted in the coin tube, it will act on the tapered surface of the plunger head to force the plunger aside and will then pass to and actuate the working elements. If a perforated slug be inserted, the plunger will pass through the perforation and prevent the slug from passing down the coin tube and in case the opening of the slug has been filled, the point of the head will easily cut its way through the filler. The slug must be removed before the device can be operated by a coin. Removal of the slug is accomplished by pressing the plunger inwardly and withdrawing the slug. The point on the conical head prevents the head from being pushed back far enough to permit a slug to slide down the coin tube as it would be necessary to use a pin or needle to push back the plunger, and, of course, the pin or needle itself would hold the perforated slug above the coin tube while attempting to push the plunger out of the way. When the needle or pin is pulled back, the spring on the plunger forces the conical head back into position.

If it be attempted to operate the machine by inserting a cent, instead of a nickel, which has been coated with salt or other material in an ei'- fort to increase its Weight, the head of the plunger will split the coating and cause it to drop from the coin. It is necessary to hold the coin in a fiat position in order to hold the dried salt placed thereon and then when the said coil is about to be deposited, it must be pushed into an upright position in the coin groove I 2. Thus when the conical spring tensioned plunger comes into contact with the salt, it acts as a buiier splitting or dividing the salt and causing the salt to fall into the instrument unattached to the coin, and the coin being too light, it will be ejected through the return slot.

The machine may be provided with a lens 8 in its front wall into which an image of the deposited coin will be reflected by a mirror lil suitably arranged in the machine, and a lens 9 at the rear of the coin tube may give the custodian of the machine a view of the deposit through a window ll in the back wall of the machine. The coin to be reflected lies in fiat position at the bottom of the coin chute, there being a gap between the platform supporting the coin and the coin chute. The mirror lo is tilted showing a reflection therein of the coin when observed through the lens 8. It will thus be possible to detect the insertion of spurious objects at once and the apprehension or warnng o-f the depositor will have a psychological deterrent effect discouraging a repetition of the offense. This effect may be increased by displaying a suitable legend on the machine, as at l3.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

In a coin controlled apparatus, a coin tube, a guide casing extending from the coin tube and having an opening formed in a wall adjacent the coin tube, a pin extending transversely through the casing and having an eye intermediate its length alined with the opening formed in the wall of the casing, a plunger slidably engaged through the eye of the pin and the opening in the wall of the casing with its outer end projecting across the coin tube, a conical head at the outer end of the plunger spaced from the inner wall of the coin tube, and a spring acting between the pin and the plunger to yieldably hold the plunger in an extended position across the coin tube with its head spaced from .the inner wall of the tube.

RUSSELL J HALL. 

